Vs Fighting Polygon Team

This stage was the simplest of stages he'd been on. One rectangular main platform, along with three smaller platforms above it. Two of the smaller platforms were situated to the left and right, respectively, and the other was slightly lower and in the center. The background was purple tinged with red and orange, giving it the appearance of a sunset. Luigi had never seen this stage before.

"What is this?" he breathed.

"This is what I'd like to call the Duel Zone," explained the glove. "Otherwise known as the Battlefield. This stage isn't included in the main tournaments, because I wanted to make this unique and exclusive to the adventure you're on now. This is where you'll face your second-hardest challenge yet. Thirty lightweight, yet aggressive fighters. You've fought Yoshis, Kirbies, a giant Donkey Kong and a metallic Mario, but let's see how your might tests out against—the Fighting Polygon Team!"

As the glove floated away, Polygons of all shapes and sizes began filling the Duel Zone. These tetrahedron-shaped fighters were created in the twelve Smashers' likenesses, with a few differences. Their builds were sharp, pointy, spiky—everything which exuded mercilessness and intimidation. Polygons materialized on the upper platforms and on the lower platforms, packing themselves together and crowding as many of themselves as they could around Luigi. Thirty blank faces met a nervous, but determined face. Thirty purple bodies blotted out any opening, leaving Luigi with nothing but a tight circle in their midst. So tight was this circle that they could hear his heartbeat and his deep breathing, that they could see the muscles rolling up and down his neck and his jaw working, that they could feel his energy and his intensity and that they could smell sweat lingering with cologne. A sea of purple, rippling towards him and hovering above him. As far as his eyes could see—nothing but Polygons.

Breathing in measured beats, Luigi raised his fists, defiant blue eyes cutting deep into those cold faces. He spoke to them with those eyes, held his ground with those eyes and lit up the Duel Zone with his eyes. Blue irises pierced right through them. He could feel their heat and their warmth, but he kept his dukes up and his chin high, sliding his eyes once again over the Polygons to his left, the Polygons to his right, the Polygons in front of him, the Polygons behind him and the Polygons above him.

One big inhale for focus.

One big exhale to chase the butterflies away.

"Okeydokey," he said in a voice close to a whisper.

3…2…1…GO!

The Polygons were a single machine of motion, all rushing him at once. Those on the base platform quickly closed the tight circle he once had. Those on the upper platforms leaped down on him like enraged animals. But Luigi kept his cool with his bruising smash attacks, reminding himself that they were lightweight, and that there were items dropping down from the sky to help him when the pressure got too much. He noticed that the Polygons rarely picked up the items, but their bodies physically blocked his attempts to get to them. Luigi simply glared at them and hammered away with strong fists and quick feet. The work boots he wore were grade A and didn't play with their sturdy soles or hard heels. Polygons were soon tumbling off the stage and into oblivion, only to have their ranks quickly filled. Luigi fought his way up to a top platform and began spinning around with his Cyclone, knocking away two to three Polygons at a time. But soon, one of them saw was he was doing, intercepted him, and sent him reeling into the sea of Polygons on the base platform.

They pounced on him then, but he pounced right back, still smashing his way through this challenge and throwing those who caused him the most hassle. He was sorely tempted to use his up-B, but due to its slight ending lag and the criteria to get his opponents within range of the sweetspot, it would not favor him in this situation. So, he employed his powerful grabbing and throwing skills, instead. His back throw, especially if executed near the edge of the stage, was a handy tool at scattering these Polygons every which way.

As Luigi continued to pound and be pounded, he took notice of the open spaces emerging between Polygons. He was almost there. He'd almost defeated them all. There was this frenetic dance-style music playing over their fight. His blood boiled, and he started shouting, louder and louder. He smiled as the Polygons scuttled backwards at his advance. They continued to attack from all directions, but it was more defensive than offensive. He shouted even more—he hollered. His voice bounced and jumped all over the Duel Zone as he fought on. He dropped low and executed a powerful sweep attack. He reared back and headbutted Polygons. He sent enlarged fists straight into his foes' expressionless faces. He threw Pokèballs, battered with Hammers and replenished himself with juicy, yummy Maxim tomatoes and those delightful Heart Containers. He felt encouraged by the increasing amount of empty spaces between the Polygon fighters. He couldn't give up now.

Dares spewing from his lips, Luigi danced about the thinning crowd, hopping up on platforms, throwing fireballs, doing aerial attacks and launching them away diagonally. Their ranks started with thirty, but now there were only ten left. Ten fighters. They couldn't crowd him out now, but at least they tried. Luigi took the liberty of catching his breath and assessing any injuries he had. He became conscious of throbbing and stickiness, but those ten were starting to encircle him. He flashed them a quick, curious smile before slamming a powerful punch into the one closest to him.

The remaining nine dove for him, but Luigi didn't stand still for a moment. His fists flew furiously as confidence surged through his bloodstream. He savored the breathing room he now had, executing a few Super Jump Punches on several of the Polygons left. Nine soon dwindled to three, and three dwindled to one, and—

This one greatly resembled him.

Luigi smiled. The two now had the Duel Zone to themselves. He strode toward the Polygon and grasped his extended hand for a handshake.

The lone Polygon was extremely aggressive, mainly out of desperation. But Luigi more than matched that aggression. He didn't stop with his blows, twirling kicks, drill kicks, sweep kicks, "sissy fists" or any of his other attacks, and neither did his opponent, until both were at over 200% damage. The Polygon was the first to lunge forward for a finishing blow, but Luigi dodged, feeling a slight wind blow past his face. In tandem with his exhale, he pivoted his body and—POW! He dealt a devastating blow to the Polygon's side, knocking him off the stage and beyond the blast line.

GAME SET!

Luigi dropped to his knees, regrouping himself from that high-octane battle. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was back in the waiting area. Only this time, the glove wasn't there to greet him.

"Hello?" he called.

No answer.

His attention was drawn to a nearby table, where a tall glass filled with a thick concoction, a piece of paper, a change of clothes, a bottle of body wash and a towel sat. He walked over to the table, picked up the piece of paper, and read:

Drink this.

Take a shower and change into these clothes.

I'll be waiting.

Luigi picked up the glass and smiled as the familiar aroma hit his nostrils. He could use a Shroom Shake right about now. It tasted heavenly. After he sucked down the beverage, he examined the fresh pair of clothes. Navy blue overalls, green shirt. Then, he grabbed up the body wash, flipped up the cap and took a sniff. Cucumbers and melons, with a touch of vanilla bean. He took the towel and body wash and headed for the showers.

A nice, soft sponge waited for him there, along with the shower head adjusted to his liking. Luigi threw off his clothes, stepped into the shower and turned on the water. It was already warm. He squeezed the body wash onto the wet sponge, got it all nice and soapy and lathered himself up. When he showered, he tended to wash more than once, like a cycle on the washing machine. He cleansed away the stink and the stress and the doubt and the apprehension, breathing in the smell of the body wash and massaging himself with the sponge using deep, circular motions. Once he was nice and soapy and rejuvenated, he turned down the water temperature and rinsed himself off, letting it pour all over him like a rainstorm. He liked to close his eyes during this part as the cold further detoxified him. Suddenly, he opened them and noticed a bottle of shampoo sitting on the soap dish. It smelled like caramel. He squirted some into his palm and worked it into his brown locks and his scalp. Then, he let the cold spray trickle through his hair, eyes closed once more, wondering where the glove was and why he was being pampered so. When he felt totally refreshed, he shut off the water, wrapped the towel around himself and exited the shower.

He gently dried himself off, combed and brushed his hair and changed into his clothes. Then, he pulled his trusty green cap out of the pocket of his overalls and settled it snugly onto his head. A spray of cologne to the back of his neck, and he was done.

Luigi walked back into the waiting area, which was still empty. Didn't the glove say that he was going to meet him once he was finished?

"Hello, Luigi," the glove's voice boomed from all around him. "I appreciate that you followed my instructions."

"Wh—where are you?" Luigi demanded, whipping his head this way and that.

"I'm everywhere, L. You should know that," replied the voice. "You have faced ten difficult battles, and in all of them, you've shown me admirable courage, determination and fortitude. You've proven yourself worth of as many accolades as your brother. However, one last foe remains—the most ruthless foe you'll ever encounter in your lifetime. Defeat him, and your quest will be over."

"Who is this mysterious opponent?" asked Luigi.

The voice chuckled. "You'll see."

And with that, Luigi was teleported away…

Ooh, the end is coming, can you almost taste it?

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